Shoo off the setinggans
Other than the action, Wira also packed a commentary on the social state that has some parallels with the real Malaysian life. The setinggan housing were forced to be demolished to build a factory, amid some resistance. As a return, the ex-residence were given shit job with shit pay and a flat to stay. It is oppressive.
It is a generic industrialism situation. Life tied with money and ex-residences were forced to work in a condom factory where the condoms are actually used to smuggle syabu illegally.
Put them to work
All in the name of development, we have buildings getting taller, yet manners and humanity are lower than the ground.
In a corrupt ruling of governance, anything goes and Hassan (Hairul Azreen) who were living in the setinggan when he was young could not stand the poor life and walked out to seek better life and improve himself, in this case the military. He came back as a fighter, like his sister Zain (Fify Zami), this time to take his father off the chain of the big boss, Raja (Dain Said). Zain had to live as a fighter for survival until she also falls into the debt trap.
In the end, Hassan with his sister Zain fought all the way to Raja and seek revenge to the death of their father. In the process they inadvertently started a revolution where the factory workers answered the call from their families and gave up the fight for the capitalist.
Raja played effortlessly by Dain Said and packed a punch. Without the need of going physical or raising his voice unlike some other ‘gangster’ movies. The chemistry between Hassan and Zain is perfect. No complains about the fight scenes. Personally I think it is better than Geran but lacks local identity.
Dehumanised
The pity life in the flat reminded me of the flat in The Amazing Life where they moved from landed house in a kampung. Just to stay behind a grill stacked over one another like a cage. Forced to work like dogs and tied by the need of money.
The scene when Hassan was stopped by the police car reminded me of the First Blood. Raja at the end also use a Darth Vader line
“...join me. Together you and me can make this work...”
The Union Jack beside Raja's desk takes a shot on how the colonialist worked. Sucking all the resources and then leave us to dry, to adapt their system or there will be no independence. To pit people against each other for it relies on division. As today, the Malays draw blood against each other. Laugh at it but actually they are laughing at themselves.
The inclusion of this film into the Paskal universe opens up possibilities on who they are going against next.
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